Cyphosperma trichospadix

On Taveuni Island, Fiji. Photo by Jim Valentine, edric.

Cyphosperma
(sih-foh-SPUR-mah) trichospadix
(trih-koh-SPAH-dix)

On Taveuni Island, Fiji. Photo by Jim Valentine, edric.

Scientific Classification

Genus:	Cyphosperma (sih-foh-SPUR-mah)
Species:	trichospadix (trih-koh-SPAH-dix)

Synonyms

None set.

Native Continent

Oceania

Morphology

Habit:	Solitary
Leaf type:	Pinnate

Culture

Survivability index

Common names

None.

Habitat and Distribution

Endemic to Fiji. Thrives in rainy, cloudy, mountains and forests, at elevations ranging from to 2,000 to 4,000 feet (610 to 1,200 m.), on Taveuni and Vanua Levu.

Description

This is an understory palm. A medium size palm, growing to about 7 meters (23 feet), with a trunk thickness of 8 cm. Crown holding 7 to 10 fronds, 2 to 2.5 meters long, pinnae 0.60 m. Fruits are oval, and no more than 2 cm. long, a pale yellow when ripe. Editing by edric.

Culture

This palm is not known in cultivation, but may do well in tropical regions. It will require a lot of water, fair drainage, and filtered light.

Comments and Curiosities

Cyphosperma trichospadix, (trichospadix being derived from the Greek words for "hair" and "spadix," an allusion to the hirsute spathe of the inflorescence)

External Links

References

Phonetic spelling of Latin names by edric.

Special thanks to Geoff Stein, (Palmbob) for his hundreds of photos, edric.

Special thanks to palmweb.org, Dr. John Dransfield, Dr. Bill Baker & team, for their volumes of information and photos, edric.

IMAGE GALLERY
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii.
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii.
Floribunda Palms, Hawaii.
Floribunda Palms, Jeff Marcus for scale. Hawaii.
FIJI: Taveuni, April, 1964.
On Taveuni Island, Fiji. Photo by Jim Valentine, edric.
On Taveuni Island, Fiji. Photo by Jim Valentine, edric.
At 600 meters elevation. On Taveuni Island, Fiji. Photo by Jim Valentine, edric.